When it comes to proper home plumbing maintenance, there are many tasks you can undertake yourself to prevent more severe issues from occurring. According to Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Houston, most of these involve maintaining the drains in your home, including your tub, shower, and sink drains. However, most homeowners forget about another crucial home drain – the floor drain.
Maintain Your Floor DrainAlthough shower drains are a type of floor drain, the floor drains we’re referring to are usually found in your basement, garage, beneath your hot water heater, or even in older bathrooms. They help to provide quick drainage in the event of a water overflow or flooding incident and prevent sewer gases from seeping into your home. In order to receive adequate protection from your floor drain, however, you’ll need to maintain it just as you would your other drains.
To prevent clogs and ensure smooth water flow, take these measures to maintain floor drains:
- Pour water down your floor drain regularly. Your floor drain utilizes a fill trap mechanism to prevent sewer gases from seeping into your home. The fill trap works by holding a layer of water between these gases and the drain cover itself; if this runs dry, you’ll notice a sewer aroma emanating from the drain. To prevent the trap from drying out, pour a gallon of clean water into the drain about once a month.
- Remove clogs immediately. Just like the other drains in your home, floor drains are susceptible to clogs resulting from hair, dust, and other debris. If your floor drain empties slowly, you may have the beginnings of a clog. As with other drains, you can try using a plunger or drain auger to break up debris.
- Clean your drains thoroughly. Two to four times a year, give your floor drains some additional attention. Check for any trapped hair or debris, then use the clog removal techniques above to ensure you don’t have a developing clog. Alternatively, flush your drain with a baking soda and vinegar solution to clear excess particles.
Floor drain maintenance is crucial for encouraging healthy water flow away from your home. If you notice a strong sewer odor or encounter a clog you can’t clear, be sure to contact Mr. Rooter Plumbing in Houston. We can help restore your home’s floor drains to optimal conditions.
